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No. 11 Strongest Job Market: Baton Rouge, La.
Who's hiring: Manufacturing (nondurable goods), Leisure & hospitality
Percent companies planning to hire in Q3: 19 percent
Population: 786,947 (+1 percent YOY)
Unemployment rate: 7.1 percent
Mean annual income: $38,170
A group of economists from Louisiana State University predicted that the Baton Rouge area will lead job creation in the state, adding an estimated 4,000 jobs in 2010 and 5,500 in 2011. A new chemical plant in Plaquemine and a reopened paper mill in St. Francisville are expected to contribute to hiring increases, according to media reports. The government will likely play a smaller role as the state enacts a hiring freeze to deal with budget problems.
